Tag: chicks

Warmth Matters: Saving Cold Chicks

~ wattlesandcombsfarm ~ Leave a comment

Nothing is dead until it’s warm and dead.

I think I have mentioned this before, but if you haven’t heard it, keep it in mind for future use. Currently, we have a broody hen who laid her eggs in a tote meant for a cat shelter. Yesterday she had three chicks hatch and there was still one egg with a pip in it.

This morning I got up and did chores as usual, and then took a minute to go check on this chicken and her chicks. What I found was a baby who looked like it had recently hatched, it wasn’t dry, and it wasn’t moving. I grabbed it out of the tote and it was cold to the touch, not making any noise, not breathing as far as I could tell, and the membrane was closed over its eyes. Quickly I took it into the garage and started trying to warm up in my hands. I huffed warm air on it and its eyes opened a little. It still wasn’t moving and very much almost dead, but there was a tiny spark of life.

I knew I needed to get it warm. I brought it into the house and got a rag which I ran under hot water. As soon as this hot rag touched the chick I felt it take a breath. It didn’t take long until it was cheeping and starting to move around. The warmth saved this chick. So, if you ever find a baby that looks dead, but it’s cold go ahead and try to warm it up. You never know when the warmth might be able to save it.

Items to Have on Hand

I have had to save a few animals now from cold. We had a pond when we first moved here and we had both a turkey and a chicken fall into the cold water and almost die last year. I had a chicken get caught in the rain and get too cold, and then of course this chick.

I always have a heat pad on hand. If I can’t find the heat pad or I need a bit more warmth I have a brooder plate. Today once I took the chick off the wet rag I put it on a towel on top of the heat pad. However, the heat pad takes a minute to warm up so I filled a mason jar with hot water and a lid and placed the baby next to it. I have also used a hair dryer on a low setting to help dry a chicken and get it warmed back up. Really anything can be used but I highly recommend some sort of heat pad to be readily available at all times.

Farm Life

I feel lucky that I found that chick just in time today. When you have farm animals you are going to lose some. It happens, but when you can save them it feels really good. Now, I just hope mama chicken does a better job and is able to keep him warm and safe. Remember, especially for baby animals, if they are cold you may still have a chance.

One Hatched!

~ wattlesandcombsfarm ~ Leave a comment

We had our first incubator chick hatch. I peeked into the incubator last night on the way to bed, not expecting anything, and found egg pieces on the floor. The chick was halfway through zipping already and we were so surprised. For the next 10 minutes, my kids and I sat there and cheered this little chicken on, it was so fun. We’ve been waiting to hatch our own chickens for years and it finally happened. This morning we have one more who has pipped and 3 more yet to go. This really is a dream come true. I still can’t believe we are actually taking steps towards our own little acreage and homestead.

Upcoming Changes

~ wattlesandcombsfarm ~ Leave a comment

With a new name change comes content changes as well. We are still homeschooling and that will always be a part of what I share, but we are also finally moving out onto a small piece of property and getting ready to start my homesteading dreams. We even have baby chicks sitting in the living room right now! This is something I’ve been dreaming about for the last 8 years if not longer. I can’t believe it’s finally becoming a reality, and I can’t wait to share some of it with you.

Chickens are here!

Chickens are sort of what started this whole thing as they tend to do. I’ve dreamt of them for years now, and have really been disappointed time and time again when we had to move somewhere that didn’t allow them. Pretty much as soon as our offer on the house was accepted my husband got me a dozen hatching eggs. We have friends who raise chickens and likes to have different breeds, so she sold us a dozen Swedish Flower hatching eggs. Into the incubator they went. Unfortunately, my incubator decided this was the time to act up and the turner didn’t work very well, so on lockdown down we found out only five had made it that far. Five chicks, with the possibility of a decent number being roosters, meant we needed a few more. We headed to our local farm supply store and came home with six more chicks. We chose two Black Australorps and four Welsummers which are already sexed and should be hens. Now the problem we face is that these won’t lay for months and I am wondering if I should find a few adults to add as well. Chicken math sure does kick in quick.

What’s Next?

I am so excited for what the future will bring. I plan on starting a large vegetable garden, an herb garden, flowers everywhere, an orchard and berry patch, and of course our farm animals. As much as I would love to do this all right away, I know it will take time and I will have to be patient. So I hope you will all follow along as I work to accomplish my dreams.